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Most of the class I took was done on a large grass field. The instructors laid out the course using small cones. The last series of exercises were riding over 4"x6" beams and some other small obstacles. The best part of the class I took was that we had an opportunity to take a long off-road ride with our instructors after the "official" part of the class was done, applying new skills right away in the real world.

The grounds requirements for the main class aren't all that onerous, I think the post-class ride would be more difficult to arrange. Though most grounds crews hate the idea of somebody riding around on their turf so I could be wrong on that one.

I will do some more research into what exactly is needed to put on the class, if it looks something we could do at the Rally, I will put a package together for the committee to consider.

Steve
"...your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride" A. Bourdain

ROB? Missing one thing here!!!

I've not heard a thing mentioned, other than beginners on GS's? Some of us, perhaps many, many of us already have skills to teach these courses and have the ability to ride the "BIG GS's" just about anywhere. A dirt guy all my life, with more experience than mentioned here and I would love the opportunity to ride my GSA1200 all over that track for fun. The "49er Rally of CA" has been doing "English Trials" at their rallies for as long as I can remember, on BIG BMW's and its a hoot, with the largest attendance at the rally. I mentioned this activity a while back, with no response from the National Rally folks and figured it to be to risky to include. I am assuming! The 49er Rally has done it for years and years, with no hitch. Participants are competeing against one another for trophies and best dirt rider, over some tough obstacles. Beginers have a shot too, as spoke here if it gets off the ground, no pun intended. Don't dismiss the bigger GS class as something not capable of some tough riding, with the best of riders in the saddles. Those beginers riding GS bikes will have a new perspective, watching pros and/or riders with years of dirt riding handle the big bikes through it all. NO, I don't jump mine as a much smaller m/x bike and rider, BUT I do take it where most would quit. Try to get this available for all to enjoy. Its a fantastic spectator event! THX.,Randy13233"Polarbear".

Try to get this available for all to enjoy. Its a fantastic spectator event!

Yes, I believe it would draw a huge crowd - sell beer nearby and watch some grown men cry. While others have a really great time showing what the "PIG" can do, and if getting booted means making "Pigs Fly" well that might be worth the price of admission - Free right?

"Here, hold my beer, would ya'"

Russ"If you took the time to really get to know me...you'd be wasting your time, because I'm exactly who you think I am"

(Life comes at you pretty fast "Pay it Forward" - Have no regrets when the end happens)

calling all GS riders

Question #1 Who is going to provide medical support for and event like this? Someone will fall and crash and get injured.
Question#2 Who or how are the crashed bikes going to get fixed>
Do you really want to ride in the dirt 1000 miles from home and crash you GS or GSA and at worse ship it home?

I've ridden my GS off road, off pavement far from home. This, IMHO, is no different - except that there will be a zillion people around to lend a hand, first aid available, we'll be in a town of some size, etc. IOW, it'll be probably be much safer than many of my other excursions.

But then I also ride a motorcycle. So my idea of what is or isn't risky is probably suspect.

Let me give you an idea of where I am coming from and what I hope to accomplish.

Keep in mind I live in Rhode Island and the closest I have been to this track is viewing photos from the chair I am sitting in right now.

Right on the fairground is a full blown MX track set up for all levels of rider, from pee-wees on XR50's all the way up to semi-pros on big bikes.

If we do nothing we'll ride up to this fenced in off road park and go "Gee, it sure would be nice to be able to ride around in there" but because nothing was planned we won't be able too.

The other extreme is having open "track time" with folks allowed to go wild, pass each other and jump their 600lb "two wheeled range rovers". In this scenario we will need an ambulance, rescue and mechanics available. Chances are it would get shut down after the first serious wreck. Obviously we can't let this happen.

In the middle is a semi competitive trials type event as they do at the 49er. That requires a bit of extra labor and starts to fall under field events which would be a perfect way to have trials and use the track for training.

For those concerned about wadding up their bikes far from home, many of us who ride GS'es live in relatively developed areas. Our best off pavement riding is on fire roads which is fine if not repetitive. To have the MOA Rally out west is a wonderful excuse to take a two or even 2.5 week vacation and head west. In 04 the Shagger and I trucked to Colorado and spent two great weeks riding our GS'es out west. Part of any big trip is using your head and not crashing your bike, be it at the rally, on a twisty road or off the side of a mountain. If you are far from home on a bike with all sorts of extra lights, a big windscreen and all sort of heavy aftermarket stuff that makes your GS more like an RT then I agree this probably isn't a good activity for you.

The best part of the trip was finding places we just don't have at home, places where the GS shines.

After the rally in Spokane I hooked up with a few friends for the Crazy Uncle Tour. We were all on dual sport BMW's.

We then went down to Moab and did a sunrise tour of the Arches.

This was followed by a visit to Ouray and a wonderful day ride on some of the high alpine jeep trails.

With Wyoming being so close to the Rockies *and* the TOR the following weekend this year presents another great opportunity to ride the Rockies.

My goal with the MX track is to see if we can come up with a way for people who didn't ride dirt bikes as kids but now have a GS learn a bit about what the bike can and will do off pavement. It is also to give any GS rider a chance to get more comfortable with their bike. I think there are quite a few GS riders who would love to check out the view from 13,000' but don't have the experience / confidence to give it a try. If we can use this facility to change this everybody wins.

When this photo was taken I was 41, outta shape and riding on Tourances. I did it and so can you.

What can't happen is for it to turn into a schwinging timber contest with folks trying to demonstrate their eligibility for the Darwin Award. I am not that concerned with this happening but unfortunately there is always a good chance for one bonehead to really hurt themselves.

So far I think peer based training with some time carved out for Field Events / Trials sounds pretty good. We need to get the F.E. chair involved for the Trials portion to happen, plus someone who knows how the 49'ers do it would be very helpful to help manage the Trials on Saturday. Come Saturday morning I will be heading for some of the spots in the photos and a few new ones too.

If you have never ridden your GS (whether pint size 650 or ginormous size 1200 Adv) off pavement for fear of not knowing what you are doing, or are afraid of falling down and not being able to pick your bike up again, this idea of Rob's is right up your alley. It may not be for everyone, but I can't think of a better place where everything is available (medical, helpers, friends and spectators) to help you find or build the confidence to explore some of the finer locations in the world. Travel is hundreds of miles of boredom with a nasty hill, dip, or creek crossing thrown in every once in while to test you. A MX track is nothing more (at slow speed) than somthing you may encounter 1000 miles from the nearest refreshment stand.

My goal would be to teach proper balance control, braking (removing the fear of the front brake), steering, turning, correct body position, the clutch friction zone and how to get the most of it, and anything else that can be done at less than 15mph. There actually is a time and place to jump, wheelie or hop your bike through or over something, but I would not be teaching how to complete a double jump on your street bike.

and, if you followed me you would be foolish to do so...

There is no reason for anyone to get hurt or damage anything on their bike that wouldn't/couldn't happen in a parking lot or next to your tent. In Fact it would be highly recommended to remove any unnecessary hardware at your tent/motel before showing up.

If it's dry 'knobbies' would be completely optional.

You are more likely to come away a better rider for having attended and I don't think that it needs to be limited to "ONLY" GS's - a motorcycle is a motorcycle.

Russ"If you took the time to really get to know me...you'd be wasting your time, because I'm exactly who you think I am"

(Life comes at you pretty fast "Pay it Forward" - Have no regrets when the end happens)

Help?

You need help with a trials event, say where, when and I'll be there. I have ridden the 49er English Trials events and even won one year on my GS and have knowledge of how to do it. Hoorah. It can happen with lots of help and folks needing to learn about GS's and the "ride in dirt" thing for beginners,ectetc. All levels of riders can participate and its relatively very safe to accomplish with all the help and concerns of fellow riders. You bet, the obvious can happen and somebody get hurt and need a hospital, but I'm sure the local area can handle any emergency we may have and all the years I can remember, no injuries, beyond very minor at the 49er Rally doing this. Most of the riders participating have always been willing to risk their bodies, bikes for some fairly simple fun and riding GS's has always had this factor built in, whether riding your own backroads, trails, etcetc or competing in a mild event like this, I speak of. Its NOT going to be a motocross event for GS's, just a trials style slow event over dirt and obstacles within reason. I don't want broken GS's and know most are far from home, but it can happen to a bike and fixes can be handled in most scenarios, with simple falls from the bikes. IT WILL be a very fun time and I hope to particiapte in any fashion and rider too in this, as I have done in my past. BEGIN; with me and others or somebody showing up at the rally and going to work, viewing the area, setting possible courses, buying some very simple supplies for course arranging, etc. and setting a time frame for the event or events. Practice time would be cool for those wishing to play on dirt with some very restricted rules, like "no racing", jumping(within reason)meaning NO AIR! Front wheels maybe. Play time would be restricted to general dirt areas around and inside the track and on a "Owner is Responsible" kind of sign off sheet, for his/her actions and NO excuses for recklessness and disbarred from further particiapting. The Trials Event can be set for Saturday sometime and maybe two times, depending on how many sign up and for a first National Rally event, we maybe can come up with an simple award for the top riders, beginners,etcetc. even if only a "rock", painted up fancy somehow...Any artists out there? I weld and could probably come up with something, rough and dirt kind of award(Maybe). I'll give some thought to it. SO, ROB, want to meet and/or submit this to the rally gods that be and run the BIG show. Whatever you decide and need help for, I'll be so very willing to get r done and be there. THX, Randy"Polarbear" A seasoned "Derty" guy. Happy Trails

Any movement on this;

Been a few days without any more data. Is it dead? I've been willing to work/volunteer at this but need the Rally support and Rob N. and others. I feel the Rally may wish for this to not happen, for reasons undiscussed here. I am clear on issues of liability, as most probably are. Will liability kill this kind of fun and if so, its a shame. I think with the GS being one of the most popular bikes BMW ever sold, it would be fitting to try an attempt at trials events at the rallies, for those willing. Even BMW has opened schools, for riding skills on the dirt, but of course thay may have deeper pockets for such activities. If we lose out to insurance woes and owners of the bikes sueing for whatever reasons of injury, it would be a loss to all. I don't know if this to be the case, but my thoughts are here anyhow. Randy13233

Been a few days without any more data. Is it dead? I've been willing to work/volunteer at this but need the Rally support and Rob N. and others. I feel the Rally may wish for this to not happen, for reasons undiscussed here. I am clear on issues of liability, as most probably are. Will liability kill this kind of fun and if so, its a shame. I think with the GS being one of the most popular bikes BMW ever sold, it would be fitting to try an attempt at trials events at the rallies, for those willing. Even BMW has opened schools, for riding skills on the dirt, but of course thay may have deeper pockets for such activities. If we lose out to insurance woes and owners of the bikes sueing for whatever reasons of injury, it would be a loss to all. I don't know if this to be the case, but my thoughts are here anyhow. Randy13233

Actually I am trying to get off my butt and get this together.

I'm looking into getting us together with the field events chair and seeing if we can't incorporate trials into the games or at least not conflict or mash toes. It all depends on what we find when we arrive but I think the best plan is to be flexible and try for training of some sort Thursday and Friday with a trials / games event on Saturday.

You are so in for helping out with the trials. Obviously we can't set up someone to fall six feet but if you have 49'er experience I am sure you know what needs to be done.

See ya there:)

Thanks Rob, for whatever you can manage. This will be a real winner for the rally, I'm certain of it. Safe and reasonable for these bikes/riders are paramount ideals, imo for all GS riders to enjoy. Many different levels of abilities exist, of course and we all can have fun doing what these bikes were intended to do. I will try for Wednesday arrival, if this gets off the ground and gets posted. Volunteering and working at this event would be one of my best rally experiences in all my years. I also have volunteer time it at the Oil Change booth, for those in need of such, but the GS Event, I'll indeed have time for. Happy Trails, Randy13233, Polarbear